[gfa4077]

My Names Kelsey and I live in California. Although I currently do not have a bird at this time I am looking into getting a new one over the summer. In my life I have had two budgies, both very special to me. My first one was an English budgie, yellow and green, named Kiwi. I loved that bird to bits! He quickly outgrew his cage and decided to make our whole house his new one! He used to roost in our blinds at night(don't know why, I can't imagine that would be really comfortable) and get into all kind of mischief. He even chewed a hole in our window screen and flew out once, only to run around to the back door and squawk until we let him back inside. He lived for 9 years and when he died I was devastated. About two months after Kiwi, we acquired Petri, a blue budgie that was bred and raised by my sisters ex boyfriend. Petri caught us at a bad time in our life though, and we found ourselves not being able to spend all that much time with him and nearly everyone but me lost interest in him. He died after his 2nd year with us when my sister through a party when my Mom was out of town, there was drinking and smoking, and I still don't know what happened that night, only that when I got back from my Dad's house, he was dead. A little over a year has passed since then and when Petri died my Mom said he would be the last bird ever. I'm slowly working on convincing her and she says If i can pay for everything, I can get a new bird. Luckily I'm working three summer camps this season and should be making around 300 dollars, just enough to buy everything I need for a small bird.

I come to this forum at a really strange time for me. Lately I've just been missing my little birdies, and longing for another, I find myself visiting Kiwi's grave often(Petri wasn't buried) and a few days ago I stumbled upon one of Petri's feathers and just started crying uncontrollably for what seemed like no reason.

So now, I'm preparing for a new bird, I want to do things right this time. Kiwiw being my first bird and me being only 6 when I first got him, definetly made some stupid owner mistakes, nothing too terrible though. And Petri, well let's just say I wish I had taken better care of him and spent more time with him while I could. I'm not going to get another budgie, I have already decided against that. Right now I'm debating between a parrotlet or a cockatiel. The petstore that carries both(It's a really nice, privately owned store, all their babies are hand raised and socialized by breeders and they have excellent care)has a lot of cockatiels that need good homes while the parrotlets sell much faster. Any input on which kind to choose would be much appreciated. Can't wait till I get my new bird and am able to share all my stories with you guys!